Q Oh mighty mediator of the macadam, I have a question troubling me. Recently I was returning to Hollister from Vallejo on Interstate 680. When I came to the rich people's lane -- the toll lane -- the signs said "open to all." I thought that was mighty generous of the rich folk to share their lane with us po' folk. After all, they built it.

But while I was enjoying life in the rich people's lane a sudden fear crept over me. Do I have to follow the rich folk's etiquette and only enter and leave at designated points or can I just enter and leave at my whim provided it is safe to do so? Please help me. I don't want to appear like an uneducated yokel.

Stephen Mills

Hollister

A Po' you. Yes, you have to follow the rules that allow exiting or entering the toll lanes only at specific locations. The "open to all" message means no tolls are being charged -- that's from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. weekdays and on weekends.

Q We recently drove through the new Highway 1 tunnel at Devils Slide. Before entering there is a neon sign saying "Tunnel Open" and as we entered and a bit further another sign saying "Tunnel Open" and still a bit further another sign saying "Tunnel Open." Is there a significant reason for three signs? If the sign should say "Tunnel Closed" when we are driving through, should we stop or speed up to get out?

Pat Saunders

Daly City

A Caltrans says the first sign is needed to alert drivers of the tunnel ahead, as there are sight-distance considerations. And the signs inside the tunnel work in conjunction with overhead message signs to give drivers emergency instructions if needed. The signs can also alert drivers to slow down or stop.

Q I'm writing to you again about Dumbarton Bridge traffic, where the flow of traffic has been horrible past the toll plaza for the past week or so. Several of my Peninsula commuting friends and I have noticed a Menlo Park police car parked by the utility plant at the end of the bridge. I'm beginning to think that some curious bridge commuters are rubbernecking to see this police car.

Do you think it's making them paranoid enough to slow the normal flow of traffic? Maybe it could be the timing of the lights at University or Willow? Please check into this issue and let me and my friends know if this will be resolved soon.

Lisa Ynzunza

Fremont

A The signals at Willow and Bayfront Expressway have been adjusted to help speed up traffic, but a cop car parked on the side of the road can bring the commute to a crawl. A Caltrans engineer thinks there is another reason: the opening of the Facebook campus.

Q Any idea when the new Butterfield Boulevard extension and connection to Monterey Highway in Morgan Hill is going to open? The website says December 2012 and the Morgan Hill Times said December 2013, but it looks like it is almost done.

Dennis Cole

Gilroy

A It is. The road could open Saturday. Enjoy.

Q Do you have any info about what's going on with the Cottle Road exit from Highway 85 north? The exit lane has been significantly reduced in width by newly placed concrete dividers, and it looks like some future lane work might be coming.

But no real work seems to have occurred since this exit lane was changed a few weeks ago. In the meantime, we get funneled into this narrow makeshift lane, which has a nice left-hand sewer gutter that we all get to pass over (or into) now.

Michael Chang

San Jose

A The nearby Hitachi development has required modifications to the Cottle-85 interchange. This will include a new diagonal northbound offramp and a northbound loop onramp. The northbound loop offramp will be removed but the existing northbound onramp will remain.

Another highway improvement is occurring at the southbound offramp to Great Oaks Boulevard, which will be widened.

Both projects are expected to be completed by the end of the year. Go to http://sjdistrict2.com for more information.

Q When is San Jose going to finish the work at Tully and White roads? They started resurfacing the intersection late last year but left off re-striping the crosswalks.

Ken Erickson

San Jose

A This section should get a slurry seal or preventive maintenance treatment in another week or two.